UTERSauger fishing in Arkansas freshwater
In Arkansas freshwater, sauger peak November–March and are around year-round, spawning in March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: White River generation schedules rule; live shad for stripers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sauger in Arkansas freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakTailwater trout and Ouachita stripers. White River generation schedules rule; live shad for stripers.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchSpawning
- AprilLeaving
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberArriving
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish sauger near White River, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita
Ozark highland reservoirs and their world-famous cold tailwaters — the White, the Norfork, the Little Red — the free-flowing Buffalo, the Ouachita lakes, and the Arkansas River backwaters.
What to use for sauger
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 34–76°F water, best at 45–65°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sauger in Arkansas freshwater?
Peak season is November–March, with fish spawning in March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Sauger are here year-round.
Where do sauger hold in Arkansas freshwater?
Look on river, bridge, reservoir — around White River, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita, Greers Ferry, Beaver Lake, Buffalo River.
What is the best bait for sauger in Arkansas freshwater?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), nightcrawlers. Minnows (fatheads, shiners): Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for sauger in Arkansas freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and change — read the current rule at https://www.agfc.com/regulations/general-fishing-regulations/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.agfc.com/resources/licensing/.
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All about sauger · Arkansas fresh water, the whole year